Korean Job Discussion Forums

Getmeouttahere · Joined: 03 Jun 2010 Location: UK

I've heard for ages now that there are loads of jobs for English teachers in Korea, but is it true?

I've been looking 6 months now for something in Seoul or Busan and found nothing. I have a TESOL qualification, a summer of teaching experience, I have had all my documents ready for 3 months and still no offers.

I'm flying to Japan in September and while I'm there I'm planning on going to Busan in search of work. This is a last resort. If it doesn't work, I'm not sure what I'm going to do. The trouble is, someone told me that I won't be able to get work this way as I'll have to be interviewed in the UK, so I'll have to come home again anyway - is this true?

BoholDiver · Joined: 03 Oct 2009 Location: Canada

If you have never had a visa before, then it's true. Don't fly here until you have a job secured.

Yes, it's a crappy way to get started. Hope you get lucky and get a good job.

If you are limiting yourself to only Seoul and Busan, that's why you aren't getting any job offers. Consider a suburb.

ttompatz · Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Location: Kwangju, South Korea

Junior · Joined: 18 Nov 2005 Location: the eye

Getmeouttahere · Joined: 03 Jun 2010 Location: UK

I just don't know what to think anymore. I've just re-posted my CV for the last time saying I'll work anywhere and with any age group. If I just get the usual crap from seriousteachers.com (about 50 applications and not one response) then I will give up and head down to Thailand or Cambodia to get something on the fly for no money.

Thanks anyway.

sojusucks · Joined: 31 May 2008

OP, a great deal of the hiring in Korea is done solely based on the photo applicants provide to recruiters and schools. Should it be that way? No, but it is the reality of the sad state of the industry. Take a good look at your photo and remember it's not "just a pic"; it's a big part of "selling yourself" in Korea.

Junior · Joined: 18 Nov 2005 Location: the eye

Getmeouttahere · Joined: 03 Jun 2010 Location: UK

Thanks guys. I'll redo my pic just in case, although it is suited and I don't have any tats etc. I am smiling - maybe that's a problem.

bcjinseoul · Joined: 13 Jan 2010 Location: Seoul, Korea

The only easy jobs to get seem to be rural public schools out in the provinces and kindergartens in Gyeonggi-do these days. If you're willing to work 9-730 at Poly School or even a long shift afternoon hogwon like 2-10 or 3-11 at Avalon, then you probably can get a job in Busan or Seoul. As for the unis, after school programs, 2-8/3-9 hogwons, and I guess the public schools (SMOE, Gangnam public schools and individual Busan EPIK jobs)...good luck. I'm sure Kim & Joe, RBI, and the other big Busan recruiters must get a 100 resumes a day.

As for myself, I'm finishing my fourth year out, with no luck on the college job search this spring and early this summer. I also wasn't allowed to transfer to a different school and get away from a psychopath coteacher, didn't quite make the Gangnam public school cut, and SMOE doesn't give release letters so I can't pick up an after school job even. Honestly don't know if I want to do a 5th year starting in the off-season at some random GEPIK job or work 1-10 somewhere else in Gyeonggi for 2.1 a month, while I have to get more paperwork together than ever before for a visa in this competitive market which has now had a bad exchange rate for 2 years. I know a guy who didn't make the GEPIK cut last winter, even with a CELTA and a few years out here...guess they really are pushing for BAs in English and Education these days...and noobs

djsmnc · Joined: 20 Jan 2003 Location: Dave's ESL Cafe

I don't think smiling is the problem, really. More important is just having a front profile pic with something decent on, particularly a shirt and tie. No funky stuff. I've been through resumes on serious teachers myself and the others there and I rejected a lot based on lousy/casual photos.

Junior · Joined: 18 Nov 2005 Location: the eye

PatrickGHBusan · Posted: Sun Aug 01, 2010 5:43 am Post subject:

There are a lot of ESL-TEFL jobs in Korea.

However, the market has been FLOODED with applicants since the US economy crashed.

People should not confuse their personal situation (high quals for example) with market trends. Right now, experienced teachers need to use employment pathways that are not those used for massive entry-level placements. These are the province of most recruiters, if you apply through these and are experienced and qualified and therefore expect higher pay, you will likely lose out, especially for Public Schools as they hire assitant teachers.

The flooded market also means that certain positions get filled at certain times of the year (ex: University, PS) and do not employ people at other periods. If you miss the window of employment for these positions, you will have to look elsewhere.

All this means that for now, a person can not really decided to head to Korea on a whim at the last minute and expect near immediate placement. Things may take longer.

Now, if you are experienced and qualified and are already in Korea, you should not be using recruiters at all. By this time you should know where to look and how to apply. You should have a position lined up well before your contract is up. Relying on recruiters when you are in-country and experienced seems odd. I mean its now hard to network , visit a few schools, do some local research on jobs...what happens when you do that is that you avoid the congested entry-level employment pathways.

As a newbie, you need to be patient these days and to plan when you apply. Right now for example, you should be focusing on Hakwons and not putting muchy effort in applying with Public schools as the vast majority of these positions have long since been filled.

bcjinseoul · Joined: 13 Jan 2010 Location: Seoul, Korea

edwardcatflap · Joined: 22 Mar 2009

ttompatz · Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Location: Kwangju, South Korea

I would like to add that the "correct" photos CAN also make a difference.

I applied for a position a few years back.
I met the criteria they asked for.
The recruiter set up the interview.
The interview went well and then the "BUT"...

But we think you may be too old and not fun for the kids.

Then I dropped a handful of pics of me doing "fun" things with kids.
Halloween costume party, Christmas party, dressed in hanbok and playing traditional Korean games with the students, participating on sports day...

Not only did I get the position, I was bumped up 100k above the original offer based on the fact that I was perceived to be a teacher who would get the kids involved in their "English education" and would make the parents happy - and this was public school position.

You can write what you want in your resume, sound as professional as you want at the interview and have all the preferred qualifications but a photo is still worth a thousand words - especially in a place like Korea (among many others in this world) where appearances do mean a lot.

There are still lots of jobs out there but with the additional numbers of applicants you have to consider the fact that there is additional competition for those jobs and employers are looking for something more than the "ordinary"

Market yourself and you will find the jobs.

.